Palace to keep mum on Arroyo trip until DOJ chief returns

Malacañang has decided to keep mum on matters involving former President Gloria Arroyo’s bid to go abroad to seek medical help, at least until Justice Secretary Leila de Lima returns from a foreign engagement this coming week. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang cannot comment on questions surrounding Arroyo’s trip until De Lima returns from an international conference in Cambodia. “Let’s just wait for Secretary De Lima’s decision. We ask for understanding if we don’t talk on the matter yet, because de Lima is not yet back," he said on government-run dzRB radio. But Lacierda also chided Arroyo’s camp for so far failing to have her “medical spokespersons" discuss her medical conditions. So far, he said those who have spoken to media about Arroyo’s foreign trip have been her legal spokespersons. He was referring to the reported challenge by Arroyo’s camp to Health Secretary Enrique Ona to find a bone expert in the Philippines, after he said there was no need for Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. “Napansin ko hindi nagsasalita ang medical spokesperson ni GMA [Gloria Macapagal Arroyo], abugado lang ang talking (about something) they are not fully competent to discuss," Lacierda said. “Let’s wait for the decision of Sec. De Lima and all these things will be addressed. We still don’t know what the decision of Sec. de Lima is. Let’s wait for her," he added. Earlier this week, De Lima said she would defer her decision on whether to authorize Arroyo’s trip abroad. Arroyo had sought to leave so she can see doctors about her spine and back problems. However, de Lima raised questions about changes in the list of countries Arroyo intends to visit, saying those countries have no extradition deals with the Philippines. Arroyo, now a member of the House of Representatives representing Pampanga’s second district, faces charges of poll fraud in relation to the 2007 elections. Meanwhile, Lacierda brushed aside the reported argument of Arroyo ally Rep. Edcel Lagman that the Justice Department has no right to curtail Arroyo’s right to travel. Lagman was quoted as saying Arroyo’s trip does not pose any threat to national security, public safety or public health – three “exceptions" of the 1987 Constitution in upholding the right to travel. “It’s our legal opinion against the legal opinion of other people," Lacierda said. When asked if he considers the Palace’s situation a tricky one, he said, “all these questions on (Arroyo) will be fielded once the decision of Sec. De Lima comes out next week." — LBG, GMA News